The trail of a traitor

Matthew 26:14-16 / Mark 14:10-11 / Luke 22:3-6…

Judas had been with Jesus and the other disciples for three years. He had seen more miracles than anyone today could even dream of. He had a close personal relationship with Jesus, but he didn’t have a trusting, saving relationship with Him. How can this be? Of course, Jesus knew this was going to happen (John 6:70). Here Judas takes several steps on the road to perdition.

He is consumed with evil thoughts. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He consorts with the enemy. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. He conspires to do evil. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.

We think that we could never do what Judas did having all the advantages he had. It is true that our struggle with loyalty to Christ is different than his. We don’t have the opportunity to physically betray Him. But we do have the opportunity to practically betray Him.

We don’t think ourselves capable, but we are all culpable (Romans 3:23). There have been times when we know what we want to do is wrong, but we think about doing it, then we plan on doing it, and then we actually do it. The Bible describes this Judas-like death walk. We are enticed, then ensnared, then enslaved, and then we actually endorse the evil (James 1:14-15).  Thankfully, we can turn around and start going the other way (1 John 1:9).

The question is, right now, are we following Jesus or are we following Judas?

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Destined to die

Matthew 26:3-5 / Mark 14:1-2 / Luke 22:1-2…        

The religious leaders were not interested in learning and living the truth at all. They were out for blood. Of course, they wanted to save their own skins while they were at it. They had long ago decided to kill Jesus, but were concerned with the time and place of their plan.

What they didn’t know is that while their plan would ultimately succeed, it was God’s will as part of His plan. The blood they shed would be the atoning blood that would bring our salvation. What they meant for the worst kind of harm, God used for the ultimate help. It was the most evil act ever perpetrated by men, and yet the most loving act ever perpetrated by God.

Still they were culpable for their actions (Acts 2:23). And so are we; even though we didn’t directly perpetrate that evil, all of us are guilty of cosmic treason against God. We might think that we aren’t against Jesus, but avoiding Jesus is an action against Him. We either embrace Him, or we reject Him. Those are the only options.

If we do trust Him, we will be tested. It means that we will have to go through times where we know we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered (Romans 8:36). Yet in this we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37). In going out to a “lost and dying world” we have to enter the den of death to feel and to bring the good news of life (2 Corinthians 1:10 / 1 Thessalonians 1:10). 

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

It’s about time

Matthew 26:1-2…

Once again, Jesus is clarifying what is about to happen. He had been speaking of His return, and warning about being ready and avoiding judgment. Now He was making sure that they were informed about His departure into death and resurrection back to life. It was just a little while till the next part of the grand plan would unfold. Let’s notice three things about this.

It was not an accident. Jesus had told them before that this is what was coming (Matthew 16:21, 17:22, 20:18-19). He knew about timing.

It was not to be avoided. Jesus was to be delivered up, to pay for our sins, so that He might be raised up, for our salvation (Romans 4:25). He knew about testing.

It was a divine appointment. Jesus was playing right into the religious leaders’ scheme, but it was all in accord with God’s schedule (Acts 4:27-28). He knew about trusting.

When your timing, testing and trusting seem all out of sorts, remember, God has it all sorted out. The time has come for you to realize that God has a perfect plan, even when you seem to be messing it all up. Your life is not an accident. Your destiny is not something to be avoided. It is a divine appointment for you to travel on the way to your destination. 

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©